Latch.



V. R. HIDLBR.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY3, 1014.

1, 1 18,549, Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

anuantov V- R- H \oLEFi m I afl'cnnaq VOLNY R. HIDLER, OF LADONIA, TEXAS LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 24.,l1914.

Application filed July 3, 1914. Serial No. 848,921..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VOLNYR. HIDLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ladonia, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches, of which the following 1 is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in latches, and particularly to latches adapted for use in, connection with swinging gates, and doors, or the like.

An object of this invention is the provision of a gate latch which consists of a striker bar carried by the gate, for engagement with a latch member pivotally connected to a supporting bar attached to the gate frame,the gate also carrying a rotatable handle, which is adapted for engagement against the latch member to raise the same out of the path of the striker bar.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a gate latch of this character in which a portion of the rotatable handle extends through the gate and is provided. with a finger piece, whereby the handle may i be rotated from either side of the gate to movethe latch member out of the path of the striker bar when it is desired to open the gate.

A still further object of this invention is theprovision of a gate latch which consists of asupporting bar attached to the gate frame a latch member pivotallyconnected to the supporting bar, the supporting bar also carryinga spring for engagement against the latch member whereby the same is normally disposed in the path of the striker bar carried by the gate.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying draw- 1ng,1n which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view lookingat one side of the gate; Fig. 12 is an elevational view looking at the opposite side of the gate; Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig.1 1; Fig. 4: is asectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 3 as the latch member inopen position; and Fig. 5 isa sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2..

'Referring more particularly to the draw a ing, the numeral 1 designates a gate frame,

to one side of which the gate Qishingedly gate.

connected. Projecting laterally from the opposite side of the gate frame is a sup porting bar 3, and pivotally connected to the supporting bar adjacent its outer end 1s an upon itself to form a pair of spaced par:

inwardly extending latch member-Al. The. latch member comprises a rod which 1s bent 1 allel legs 5, the free ends of the legs being pivotallyconnected to the bar-3 adjacent its outer end, the legs extending inwardly of the bar on opposite sides thereof, the in termediate portion oli the rod which connects the legs being, disposed upwardly above the longitudinal plane of the legs as at 6, forengagement over the supporting j bar adjacent its inner end To normally hold the connecting portion 6 of the legs of the latch member in engagement with the supporting bar, a flat spring 7 is connected at its outer end to the outer end of the bar 3, the inner end of the springbearingw against the connecting portion 6 thereby normally forcing the same downwardly, so that the legs 5 of the latchmember are disposed below the supporting bar in an inolined plane from the inner ends of the legs a to their pivotal points.

Secured to the gate is a horizontally disposed striker bar 8, the free end of the striker bar projecting, outwardly beyond the outer edge of the gate, and the latch member 4 being disposed in the path of the striker bar when the. gate is moved to closed position. Rotatahly mounted in bearingplates 9 on the opposite faces of the gate immediately above the striker bar 8,

disposed at anangle and curved as at 12 to provide a finger piece on the opposite side of the gate, so that the handle 11 may be rotated to release the latch from either side of the gate.

In the practical use of my improved gate latch, presuming that the gate is in open position and it is desired to close the same, it will be seen that whenthe gate is moved to its closed position, the projecting end of the striker bar 8 engages the legs 5 iof the latch member and forces the same upwardly against the tension of the spring 7,

The opposite end of the rod 10 is ber and forces the same upwardly to move,

them out of the path of the striker bar 8,

whereby the gate may be readily opened. As

soonas the striker bar 8' is swung outwardly from below the latch member, the same is forced downwardly by the tension of the spring 7, so that the latch member will again be disposed in the path of the striker bar when the gate is closed. By providing the finger piece 12 on the outer face of the gate, the gate may be readily opened from either side thereof, and it will be seen that by the provision of the spring 7, the latchmember is always disposed in the path of the striker bar to hold the gate in closed position.

Having thus fully described myinvention,

what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is A latch for gates or the like comprising the combination with a striker bar carried by the gate, a supporting bar attached to the gate frame, a latch member pivotally connected to the supporting bar, and means for normally disposing the latch member in the path of the striker bar, of a rod rotatably mounted in the gate and having one end thereof looped to provide a handle, said handle being adapted for engagement against the latch member to move the same outof the path of the striker bar, and the other end of the rod being directed at an angle and curved to provide a finger piece, whereby the latch member may be moved out of the path of the striker bar from either side of the gate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiixmy' signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VOLNY R. HIDLER.

Witnesses p P. T. HOODS, J B. Ronnn'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

